Union Berlin face off against top of the Bundesliga in Bayer Leverkusen with one task: to end Bayer's long winning streak. Predicted Lineups and team news for both below.
Match Facts
Union Berlin suffered at the hands of Xabi Alonso in November 2022 when they lost 5-0 thanks to a Moussa Diaby double and a Robert Andrich strike.
Union Berlin have won one of their last five games, 2-1 against Werder Bremen before the international break, but are eighth in the Bundesliga table for the calendar year.
Since the departure of Urs Fischer, Union Berlin have not beaten a side in the current top six in the Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso could become the first manager since Niko Kovač to win the Bundesliga as a foreign coach, in doing so becoming the second Spaniard ever (after none other than Pep Guardiola).
Alongside this, Alonso can become the first ever manager in the 21st century to win the Bundesliga as a foreign manager outside of Bayern Munich.
Lastly, no team has more different goal scorers (level with Bayern) than Bayer Leverkusen this season showing their versatility in the means of scoring against their opponents.
Team News
Jerome Roussillon is out with a calf injury and Jakob Busk is also unavailable due to the same issue. Janik Haberer is unavailable with a muscular problem.
Bayer 04 have no outstanding injuries and can be keen on the return of top goalscorer Victor Boniface following long-term injury. The only doubt ahead of Saturday is Arthur.
Predicted Lineups
Rønnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Khedira; Trimmel (c), Tousart, Schäfer, Gosens; Vertessen, Volland
Hrádecký (c); Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Schick